Chapter Ninety-Eight: Oppression

Jade Sword Gate had returned to its former quiet. The disciples once again immersed themselves in tense cultivation, and ever since the Green Sect’s return, Jade Sword Gate had remained exceedingly low-key. The sect master, Shangguan Yu, had even forbidden the disciples from leaving the gate to train on their own. Such a decision was born of necessity, all because of the Green Sect’s pressure.

The Hunting Assembly had ended ahead of schedule. The Green Sect had lost three powerhouses, and although Long Yun ultimately severed his ties with Jade Sword Gate and shouldered all the blame, the Green Sect remained unwilling to let it rest.

For while pursuing Long Yun, its foremost prodigy, Cheng Rongxiang, had also fallen at Long Yun’s hands. It could be said that among this generation of disciples, nearly all those ranked among the very best had died by Long Yun’s hand alone.

In the end, although Long Yun had been driven into Wolf Ravine, the Green Sect had lost all face, while Jade Sword Gate had trampled hard upon it.

Even though all of Long Yun’s points had been reset to zero, the combined ranking of Jade Sword Gate’s five disciples still stood above that of the Green Sect’s disciples, firmly holding first place.

This was something the Green Sect could not accept. Shangguan Yu had anticipated this, and so after returning to Jade Sword Gate he issued an order forbidding any disciple from going down the mountain in private.

He knew well the Green Sect’s style. By now, the relationship between Jade Sword Gate and the Green Sect had long since become irreconcilable, and it would not end simply because of Long Yun’s apparent death. Jade Sword Gate had just survived a great calamity.

Its disciples had suffered a grievous blow and were in no condition to contend with the Green Sect. They could only endure this moment of humiliation and wait for the younger generation, such as Xiao Leng and Chang Yi, to truly grow into their strength.

Yet events also proved Shangguan Yu’s decision wise. Not long after their return to Jade Sword Gate, three disciples who had gone down the mountain in secret disappeared without cause, and the incident caused an uproar among the gate’s disciples.

Only after Shangguan Yu suppressed the matter did the disciples’ panic finally subside.

Still, each disciple of Jade Sword Gate felt a heavy oppression in his heart. This kind of cowering, turtle-like existence was indeed hard to bear.

“Gate Master, these days the disciples are all on edge, and no one outside wants to join our Jade Sword Gate. If this goes on, I fear...” In the council hall, Chen Huafei let out a sigh.

Among the five great seal-bearing elders, he was the sole survivor, and only he could speak so frankly in counsel to Shangguan Yu.

Shangguan Yu gave a faint sigh. “Jade Sword Gate is weak. If we do not keep ourselves concealed like this, how can we guarantee the disciples’ safety? I have no choice either.”

Chen Huafei understood Shangguan Yu’s difficulties as well, and sighed again. “Especially the Heart Sword Vein. Now that it has lost Long Yun as its backbone, the disciples have no spirit in their cultivation. In my opinion, we should select a new elder to temporarily take charge of the Heart Sword Vein, otherwise it may sink into decline once more.”

Shangguan Yu glanced at him, his eyes narrowing slightly. After a long silence, he said coolly, “The seal-bearing elder of the Heart Sword Vein is and will only ever be Long Yun.”

“But...” Chen Huafei began, then stopped. No one was willing to believe that Long Yun could have fallen like this. Yet Wolf Ravine, that place of utter doom, was all but synonymous with certain death.

Chen Huafei did not know why the gate master was so certain that Long Yun had not died.

“Let the Heart Sword Vein be under my temporary management. After all, I also came from the Heart Sword Vein. When Junior Brother Long Yun returns, I will hand back the elder’s seal.” Xiao Leng rarely spoke so much at once.

Shangguan Yu’s gaze fell upon him, and at last he let out a sigh and nodded heavily. “You also believe he has not fallen?”

“If he is dead, then I will tear through Wolf Ravine, drag his corpse back out, and then thoroughly abuse it.” Xiao Leng’s voice held not a trace of emotion.

Yet within those words lay such deep concern and trust that even the three seal-bearing elders present were moved by them.

Shangguan Yu nodded. “Very well. Xiao Leng, go to the Heart Sword Vein at once. Long Yun’s disappearance has been too great a blow to them. They need your comfort.”

Xiao Leng nodded and withdrew. Shangguan Yu also gently closed his eyes and said no more.

At the Heart Sword Vein, all the disciples sat in the training grounds. Ever since Long Yun had vanished, for a full half month they had not cultivated at all.

Every disciple of the Heart Sword Vein sat there in silence, no one speaking, no one moving, as though they were a group of walking corpses.

Long Yun had not been in the Heart Sword Vein for long, yet he had won them over completely. From entering the Sword Stone and obtaining the five supreme sword arts, to the Sword Stone gradually recovering, and then later helping them improve their innate talent, every deed had been deeply etched into the hearts of the Heart Sword Vein disciples. Ever since Xue Renqi died, Long Yun had become the spiritual pillar in their hearts.

Now that pillar had come crashing down, and they no longer knew what they should do.

“What are you all doing?” Xiao Leng’s figure suddenly appeared among them, his voice cold and stern.

Yuan Chen was the first to stand. A bitter smile tugged at his lips. “Xiao Leng, is it truly impossible for Long Yun to return?”

Bang.

Xiao Leng struck out with lightning speed, his palm landing squarely on Yuan Chen’s chest and sending him flying sideways. He spat a mouthful of blood in midair and crashed heavily to the ground.

“Xiao Leng, what are you doing?” Chen Jie and several other disciples sprang to their feet at once and charged toward him, demanding angrily, “Just because Junior Brother Long Yun is gone does not mean the Heart Sword Vein can be bullied at will!”

On Xiao Leng’s icy face, a faint, elusive smile suddenly appeared. Then he snorted and said, “I thought you were all already dead. I never expected your spirit to still be here.”

“What did you say?” Chen Jie shouted, pointing at Xiao Leng. He looked ready to launch a fight at the slightest disagreement.

Xiao Leng glanced at Chen Jie and said with disdain, “The Heart Sword Vein is steeped in Long Yun’s blood and sweat. He did not hesitate to expend his own true energy to help raise your talents and teach you cultivation methods. For what? To see you like this now, half alive and half dead? If you were women, I, Xiao Leng, would not say another word today. But what you are doing now will only make Long Yun even more disappointed in you. I think all the things he once did for you were a waste.”

Xiao Leng swore that the words he spoke today exceeded all the words he had uttered in nearly twenty years. Thinking of this, he could not help but smile bitterly inwardly.

All the disciples of the Heart Sword Vein fell silent. Xiao Leng was right; they had indeed been showing signs of self-abandonment.

“Do you really believe Long Yun has died like this? I certainly do not. Before long, he will return, and he will return in glory. As for you, you will become the only stain upon that glory. I have said enough. Think it over yourselves.” With that, Xiao Leng turned and left.

He had long known that the disciples of the Heart Sword Vein, though not gifted with exceptional talent, were all iron-blooded men. His words today were enough to stir them.

If they still could not awaken from their daze, then the Heart Sword Vein would truly be beyond saving.

As it turned out, Xiao Leng’s words were very effective. Starting the next day, all the disciples of the Heart Sword Vein entered cultivation, and they did so as one unified body.

Led by Yuan Chen and Chen Jie, more than ten disciples arranged their time with remarkable precision, leaving almost no time for rest as they devoted themselves fully to cultivation.

Xiao Leng nodded in secret approval. After Long Yun had helped raise their talent, the disciples of the Heart Sword Vein had already risen to a new level. With cultivation like this, it would not be long before the Heart Sword Vein shook the entire Jade Sword Gate.

Yet at the thought, Xiao Leng gave another heavy sigh. “Long Yun, you brat, when exactly are you going to come out? I still refuse to believe you’re a man doomed to an early grave.”

And at that very moment, in the stone chamber where Long Yun was within Wolf Cave, the entire room was completely shrouded in a golden radiance. One could see with the naked eye that Long Yun now looked like a blazing star, with all the light seeming to pour forth from his body.

Above Long Yun’s head, the shadow of a golden dragon, a Tai Chi wheel of life and death, and a stalwart figure stood in three separate directions, each omen flashing continuously with formidable light.

At the same time, Long Yun’s body began to tremble violently. Blood seeped from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, and the three phantom images flickered in and out of existence, as if they might shatter at any moment.